Monday, April 21, 2014

American Civil War - Black Powder Rules

For about the last year or so I've been slowly collecting Perry Miniatures ACW figures. I have to say that Perry Miniatures are on a roll - they've released some outstanding plastic sets covering some key periods, but the thing I like the most about them is how they fill out their ranges with extras. For example, their carts and wagons from their AWI, ACW, and other periods are outstanding. For ACW, I have their supply wagon, field forge, ambulance, casualties and camp sets - all of which will add some outstanding details to the battlefield in much the same way I've used their stuff for my French & Indian War collection (wagons and civilians).

To "get my dander up" around ACW, I've been watching movies (Gettysburg, Gods and Generals and Glory) and reading several books. In addition to checking out some pictures of others playing ACW miniatures games, I've also been inspired by the art of Don Troiani - who has some exceptional works under his belt. A buddy of mine lent me his book and I've been drooling over the pictures ever since ... you can see a couple of examples below. You can pickup his book here (available on Amazon).

Art by Don Troiani from the bookDon Troiani's Civil War.

Art by Don Troiani from the bookDon Troiani's Civil War.

As I now have my Bolt Action collection nicely filled out (and with more to do there), I looked at my recent efforts and they've been heavily oriented towards skirmish level wargames. I have a large Napoleonic collection I use with the Black Powder rules (excellent, a game coming up this weekend) - but I want another largish period I can tackle. So, I landed on using Black Powder for my ACW stuff (originally I was looking at Brother Against Brother - another skirmish level investment). The infantry units will be made up of 30 figures each and will represent a regiment, cavalry will be 16 figures mounted, or 12 dismounted with 4 groups of horse holders, and artillery will be a single gun with limbered and unlimbered options. I've been assembling units - as you can see below ...

Confederate infantry unit.

Union artillery unit with both limberedand unlimbered options.

Union infantry unit.

My current plan is to build three brigades for each side. For the Confederates, I'll build Picket's division at Gettysburg - all 15 infantry regiments/units (three brigades of five infantry units). I'll also add two guns to that division. For the Union, I'll build out the Irish brigade, and other units of interest from the battle of Gettysburg, some guns, and some cavalry. The idea being that I would have enough to do several small scenarios from the battle of Gettysburg (and of course others). I'd like to run "Picket's Charge" when I get everything finished up ... the sight of three full brigades or 15 units of 30 figures marching across the table would be awesome (at least in my mind) ... I also have some ideas on how that scenario can be built out in Black Powder while giving both sides that opportunity to "win" ...

So, more to come on this front. I have a Black Powder Napoleonic's game coming up on Sunday and I'm looking forward to that as I haven't dusted off my collection for some time. I'll be posting up pictures and a battle report following that game.

Certainly a lot to do ... but a worthy project! :-) I'll be farming out a goodly chunk of the painting ... primarily the infantry ... the rest I'll be poking away at with my snails pace of a painting rate :-)